Advice needed...

[Becky1]

My lo is 8.5mths old and ebf. He currently has 3 meals a day and an afternoon snack. His bf are one when he wakes (6am to 8am), one between 3pm and 4pm and one before bed at 7pm.

He's never taken to a bottle but drinks water quite well out of a cup. I've tried expressed milk and formula in a cup a couple of times but he's point blank refused. I'm getting worried as I'm back to work in 8 weeks and won't be able to do the afternoon feed.

Will he be ok without this feed? And any tips on perhaps moving him to formula out of a cup?
xx

 

[Becky1]

Anyone? x

 

[HL28]

Hey hun so in 8 weeks time your lo will be 10 monthsish right? I'd say try and see if he'll take some milk in a cup or breaker or check with HV if just two feeds a day is enough? Make sure he's having plenty of dairy through cheese and yogs if he drops the feed completely. I'd run it by your HV xxx

 

[BunnyN]

I'd say at that age if he doesn't accept milk in a cup try another solid snack to replace the afternoon feed and if he is still needing the milk he will make up for it by breastfeeding more when you are with him.

 

[Wilson28]

Don't worry, 1 feed won't hurt him missing it also he won't drink milk from his water cup as he knows it's for water, just cut back on the feed and give him some cheese and yogurt xx

 

[Becky1]

Thanks for ten replies. HV said he needs 3 feeds (indicated he might need 4!!!) and that I should offer formula which I've started doing but he refuses it. Bought him two different cups - one for water one for milk so he knows the difference. I might have to start offering him formula for other feeds when he's more hungry to see if he'll take it.

 

[JoS]

I'm really surprised your hv said that! I was going to suggest the same as others, give him an afternoon snack instead!
My son def only had a morning and night feed at that age.
If he is drinking water from a cup during the day I wouldn't worry about the afternoon feed

 

[Wilson28]

A hv shouldnt offer formula when hes a bf baby, x

 

[Becky1]

They did say about expressing but I'm struggling to get more that 1-2oz out in about 30mins. I've started trying to build up a stock but it's not easy! x

 

[Nutsyputs]

My lo had dropped down to 2 feeds a day by 10 months and like other ladies have said I give him a snack in the afternoon.

 

[Wilson28]

If you introduce formula now you will upset the lo tummy, i would honestly give them a natural snack like yoguart and cheese, as for expressing, you will be established now so your body will only making on demand and your hormones wont be making the milk with a piece of equipment, trust me your baby will make up for the feed when you are home, plus express at work and use that the next day for the feed x

 

[BunnyN]

The thing with BFing is that you don't know how much he is getting. One baby might be getting as much in one feed as another is in four. A lot of HVs know little about BFing and give bad advice. My instinct would be to trust the baby rather than the HV. If he is happy to accept a solid snack instead I wouldn't worry. Its important that he gets enough calcium but he could get that from yogurt or other high calcium snack. Maybe offer the formula as well in case he will take it when you are not there? How many hour will you be working a day? If you don't work long hours I think if he needs another feed he will make up for it while you are home. You could try and encourage him to feed as soon as you get home from work and before bed? There doesn't have to be an even number of hours between feeds.